Fundamentals of Children's Services (Ala Fundamentals Series)

Where we fit in -- Principles of children's librarianship -- Whom do children's librarians serve? -- Purposes and components -- Selection and acquisition -- Cataloging and organization -- Evaluation and deselection/weeding -- After-school services -- Reference -- Reader's advisory -- The Internet -- Story hours -- Book discussion groups -- Booktalking -- Entertainment and enrichment programs -- Summer reading programs -- Family programs and family literacy -- Budget and finance -- Planning -- Policy and procedures -- Public relations, promotion, and marketing -- Professional development

Aimed at librarians, administrators, and trustees, this volume surveys both standard and innovative practices in children's library services. It opens with a discussion of how children's services fit into the overall mission of the library. Other topics include (for example) the acquisition of materials, the provision of after-school services, and the development of family literacy programming. Administrative issues such as budgeting and public relations are covered in the final section. Sullivan is director of the Weeks Public Library in Greenland, New Hampshire. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

School Library Journal

This volume is intended to be a guide for the new or future children's librarian. As such, it reads like a textbook and covers the gamut of topics that you would expect to find in such a text-collection development (purposes, selection and acquisition, organizing, cataloging, evaluation, deselection); services (after-school, reference, readers' advisory, the Internet); programming (storyhours, book-discussion groups, booktalking, summer reading clubs, family programs, family literacy); and management, administration, and leadership (budget, finance, planning, policy and procedures, public relations, promotion, marketing, professional development). Sullivan also discusses the role of children's services and the principles of children's librarianship. Topics are not covered in great depth but the content does touch on the essential elements. Insets within the chapters discuss issues such as librarian shortages and pay equity, service to boys, children and privacy, and library programs and copyright. Other insets give suggested titles for storyhours, a sample press release, and Web resources. While the book is probably redundant for practicing children's librarians, it is well suited for novices or as a guide for library directors who are not sure of the place of children's services in the public library.-Janet Hilbun, Texas Woman's University, Denton Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

With more than one-third of library users under the age of 12, it may be said that children's services drive public libraries. Still, many administrators don't fully appreciate how integral these services are to their institutions. Sullivan conducts a friendly tour in this comprehensive reference, covering both innovative and standard practices in children's services. From the collection and programming, to homework support, reference and reader's advisory, to promoting and budgeting, children's services parallel other library services and are no less important. Part of ALA’s Fundamentals Series, this overview provides hands-on, proven strategies for those on the front lines, while addressing questions critical to the long-term success of children's library services: Why are children's services so important? How do they fit into the library overall? What do children's librarians do all day? Why should children's librarians focus on administrative matters? What are the hot issues and cutting-edge trends? Those who want to become children's librarians, experienced and new children's librarians, library administrators and trustees alike will find this new "bible" of children's services sets the record straight: Children’s services are the heart of the library. With more than one-third of library users under the age of 12, it may be said that children's services drive public libraries. Still, many administrators don't fully appreciate how integral these services are to their institutions.Michael Sullivan, best-selling author of Connecting Boys with Books (ALA Editions, 2003), conducts a friendly tour in this comprehensive reference, covering both innovative and standard practices in children's services. From collection development and programming to homework support, reference, and readers' advisory to promoting and budgeting, children's services parallel other library services and are no less important.Part of ALA's Fundamentals Series, this essential overview provides hands-on, proven strategies for those on the front lines, while addressing questions critical to the long-term success of children's library services, including the importance of children's services in the library, along with the hot issues and cutting-edge trends.Those who want to become children's librarians, experienced and new children's librarians, and library administrators and trustees alike will find that this new bible of children's services sets the record straight: Children's services are the heart of the library. ''If we are to thrive, if we are to serve those who need us so much, we must almost consider ourselves newly minted librarians every day of our careers.''Michael Sullivan from the Preface. With more than one-third of library users under the age of 12, it may be said that children's services drive public libraries. Still, many administrators don't fully appreciate how integral these services are to their institutions. Sullivan conducts a friendly tour in this comprehensive reference, covering both innovative and standard practices in children's services. From the collection and programming, to Where we fit in Principles of children's librarianship : what children's librarians believe Who do children's librarians serve? Purposes and components Selection and acquisition Cataloging and organization Evaluation and deselection/weeding After school services Reference Reader's advisory The Internet Story hours Book discussion groups Book talking Entertainment and enrichment programs Summer reading programs Family programs and family literacy Budget and finance Planning Policy and procedures Public relations, promotion, and marketing Professional development.